Primary tabs

January 2013

POPLARVILLE — Pearl River Community College quarterback Dylan Favre has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the University of Tennessee-Martin in Martin, Tenn. Favre, a high school All-American at St. Stanislaus College in Bay St. Louis, signed with the Skyhawks Dec. 19 after playing the 2012 season at PRCC. “I’m thrilled to be with Tennessee-Martin and looking forward to getting on campus and getting to work,” Favre said. Favre will be eligible for spring training and has two years of eligibility. “I like the way the Skyhawks and Coach (Jason) Simpson run their offense. They run the spread and like an up tempo offense. Some of the terminology will be different but the foundation is what I am familiar with.” Favre completed 59 percent (191 of 323 with 15 interceptions) for the Wildcats this past fall for an 11th best 2,024 yards (224.9 per game) in school history. His 16 touchdown passes were ranked 10th best. In addition, he rushed for 131 yards (71 carries) for two TDs. PRCC finished its 2012 campaign at 3-6 overall and 2-6 in the MACJC South Division. Favre’s passing numbers ranked 15th in the NJCAA and fourth in the MACJC. Simpson led the Skyhawks to an 8-3 record this past fall. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1995 and played football for a season with Dylan’s father, Jeff, in Hattiesburg. Jeff Byrd, UTM’s defensive coordinator, is a 1989 USM graduate. The Skyhawks graduated their quarterback this year. Derek Carr threw for 3,276 yards and 31 touchdowns on 264-of-415 passing with just eight interceptions. Carr will be a graduate assistant this fall and that caught Favre’s attention. “It will be a huge help having him (Carr) on the sidelines. He understands the system extremely well and can help me tremendously. UTM protects their quarterback well on film and they like to throw the ball a bunch. I am excited about the opportunity.” Simpson says Favre is expected to compete for the Skyhawk’s starting job immediately. At St. Stanislaus, Favre set 21 school records and nine state records his senior year as he led the Rocks to the 2009 Class 4A state title. He was named Mr. Football in Mississippi, Gatorade Player of the Year, the game MVP in the Bernard Blackwell All-Start Classic and the National Player of the Year by O-D Sports. Favre led the nation in passing yards (5,589), touchdown passes (63), touchdown responsibility (81) and total offense (6,854) his senior year. His single season total offense mark is the second best mark in high school football history. The Skyhawks play in the West Division of the Ohio Valley Conference and they are a Division I member of the FCS. The other members of the West Division are Austin Peay State University, Eastern Illinois University, Murray State University, Southeast Missouri State University and Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. The East Division members are Belmont University, Eastern Kentucky University, Jacksonville State University, Morehead State University, Tennessee State University and Tennessee Tech. “My time at PRCC has been good for me. While this past season wasn’t the year we expected to have, we learned a tremendous amount. I played the majority of the year banged up. I am better now and looking forward to getting back on the field. I appreciate (PRCC) Coach Tim Hatten for sticking with me and I wish him the very best.” Hatten resigned the Wildcat post in November. Former PRCC defensive coordinator William Jones, who left The River in 2008 to assume the same position at East Mississippi CC in Scooba, was hired to succeed Hatten. Favre signed with Mississippi State out of high school and spent two seasons with the Bulldogs before transferring to PRCC this past fall. He will report to the UTM campus on January 9 to begin the spring semester.

POPLARVILLE - Lillian Clark hopes she feels good and the sun shines when she and the Pearl River Community College band march along Pennsylvania Avenue in the Presidential Inaugural Parade.PRCC’s Spirit of the River marching band will represent Mississippi in the Jan. 21 parade following the inauguration of President Barack Obama for a second term.Clark and several other members of the Spirit of the River marched in the parade four years ago when they were in the Petal High School band.“I was kind of upset about the weather,” Clark recalled about the 2009 parade. “It was very cold and it was snowing; plus I was sick on top of that. Once I realized I was in Washington for something bigger than my sickness, it was better.”A sophomore clarinet player, Clark is looking forward to the second chance to participate in something most Americans never get to do even once.“It’s going to be a great experience,” she said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’ve done a lot of parades, but that is the most honorable parade for a college or high school to march in.”Dr. Kyle Hill, PRCC director of bands, had inquired some time ago about opportunities to perform in Washington, D.C. “We got a phone call on Dec. 18 that said ‘On behalf of President Obama, we would like to invite the Pearl River band to participate.’,” he said. “We are the only group from Mississippi to participate.” Based on his own research, Hill believes PRCC is the only Mississippi community college to participate in a presidential inaugural parade since President Jimmy Carter was inaugurated in 1977 and possibly ever. “Pearl River Community College is extremely honored to have been invited to represent our state in the President’s Inaugural Parade,” said Dr. William Lewis, president. “This will be an experience that our band students will be able to carry with them throughout life. Many of our students have never had the opportunity to visit our nation’s capitol. That experience, in andof itself, is a fantastic opportunity for our students.”All 50 states will be represented in the parade, which will follow President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden from the Capitol on the 1.5-mile route on Pennsylvania Avenue. The Spirit of the River will play God Bless America.All members of the band, drum line, String of Pearls dance squad and color guard - about 150 students - have to have Secret Service clearance to participate. Hill and assistant band director Mike Bass spent several days during the Christmas break submitting photos and identification of each student.The band will travel by charter bus, leaving Poplarville on Saturday, Jan. 19, and arriving in Washington the following day.“We’ll do some sightseeing on Sunday,” Hill said. “The parade is Monday. We’ll arrive back in Poplarville Tuesday afternoon.”The Presidential Inaugural Parade is coordinated by the Joint Task Force - National Capital Region. The U.S. military has participated in this tradition since April 30, 1789, when members of the U.S. Army, local militia units and Revolutionary War veterans escorted President George Washington to his first inauguration ceremony at Federal Hall in New York City, according to the U.S. Army website.

P.R.C.C. BOOKSTORE Hours For the following campuses

Students who are enrolled in courses for the Spring 2013 term may begin purchasing and/or renting* their textbooks on January 7, 2013 until February, 2013 (for A/R-Financial Aid)*Only those textbooks which have been selected as RENTAL textbooks can be either RENTED and/or PURCHASED. All other textbooks not eligible for Rental must be purchased.**see store hours for Hancock below

IMPORTANT: ALL STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PRESENT THE FOLLOWING BEFORE they will be allowed to Purchase and/or Rent their textbooks.(1)- PRCC STUDENT I.D.(2)-A COPY OF STUDENTS CURRENT CLASS SCHEDULE for SP 2013

STUDENTS who are enrolled in Extended Education Courses (On-Line Classes) MUST ALSO HAVE THE FOLLOWING BEFORE THEY CAN BE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE/RENT TEXTBOOKS for ONLINE COURSE are required to present a COPY(printed) their STUDENT PROFILE as well as their PRCC I.D. card.

If you do not have a copy of your STUDENT PROFILE (printed from the MSVCC site) you may not purchase and/or rent Textbooks until you do present a printed copy of it to the Bookstores when you come to pick-up those textbooks. All campuses will require the same documentation before they can sell/rent textbooks to any student. This is to help assure that you receive the correct textbook(s),etc. required for the course(s) that you are enrolled in through our Virtual College.

POPLARVILLE - Women’s health will take center stage on Saturday, Jan. 26, when Pearl River Community College hosts the seventh annual Women’s Health Symposium.The doors to Crosby Hall will open at 7:30 a.m. for early birds to enjoy a continental breakfast and the art walk featuring the work of area artists. Following a welcome at 8:15 a.m., the symposium begins with a panel discussion and question-and-answer period about women’s health concerns.Panelists will be Dr. Andrea Carter with the Women’s Pavilion of South Mississippi, Dr. Lara Otaigbe with Wesley Primary Care of Hattiesburg, Dr. Melissa Holland with Hattiesburg Clinic and Dr. Angela Jones with The Poplarville Clinic.“One of the primary purposes of the Pearl River Community College Women’s Health Symposium is to raise the awareness of women in this region regarding the need for changes in lifestyles in order to improve the personal health and fitness of our citizens,” said Dr. Becky Askew, PRCC vice president for planning and institutional research and chair of the symposium steering committee.The symposium health fair begins at 10 a.m. and provides blood pressure, blood glucose, bone density, hearing, posture and vision screenings. Because a limited number of screenings are available, guests will receive wrist bands when they check in for the screenings they choose. The health fair also will include manicures offered by students in PRCC’s cosmetology program and informational displays from a variety of health-care providers, including the PRCC dental hygiene clinic.Lunch begins at 12 p.m. with entertainment by The Voices, 12 PRCC students selected by audition for the elite ensemble. Guests will also be presented with special favors.Barb Bancroft of Chicago, a widely-acclaimed presenter, will be the luncheon speaker. Executive director and president of CPP Associates Inc., a consulting firm and continuing education provider for healthcare professionals and corporate seminars, she is a pediatric nurse practitioner, an educator and author.Her books include Medical Minutiae, a humorous look at the fields of medicine and nursing; An Apple a Day: The ABCs of Diet and Disease; Live a Little, Laugh a Lot; and Kiss My Asparagus: An Essential Guide to Nutrition’s Role in Health and Disease.In addition to her clinical experience as a pediatric and adult neurology nurse, she has held faculty positions at the University of Virginia, the University of Arkansas, Loyola University of Chicago and St. Xavier University of Chicago.The annual presentation of dozens of door prizes will conclude the symposium by 1:30 p.m. although the art walk will re-open as guests leave.Grand sponsor of the symposium is Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation through a grant of $17,000.“Through this event, hundreds of women receive information which will be beneficial to each of them and to their families,” Askew said. “We greatly appreciate the support and contributions of our major sponsor, the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation.” The symposium would not be possible in its current format without the foundation’s assistance, she said. “The evaluations of symposium activities by participants are indicative of this important assistance,” said Dr. Ted Alexander, foundation chief executive officer. “We are pleased to be a part of what the symposium has to offer.”The registration fee of $20 is due by Wednesday, Jan. 16, and includes all of the above events. For registration material, email womenshealthsymposium@prcc.edu or telephone 601-403-1317.

POPLARVILLE - Approximately 400 women took time Saturday to learn how to be healthier when they attended the 2013 Women’s Health Symposium at Pearl River Community College. The symposium gave them free health screenings, a panel of five area physicians who answered questions about women’s health concerns and a rollicking keynote speech. The women also received pearl earrings as a special favor and an insulated lunch bag along with a variety of samples and promotional items from more than 30 vendors at the health fair. “I’m glad I came,” said Carrie Hales of Poplarville. “I’ve had a bone density test. I had my cholesterol checked.” The event, the seventh hosted by PRCC, featured keynote speaker Barb Bancroft, a nurse practitioner and author of “Kiss My Asparagus!”, a guide to nutrition’s role in health and disease.Bancroft kept the audience laughing as she touted the benefits of exercise and diet, including any kind of beans. “As long as it gives you gas, it’s a good bean,” she said. A healthy lifestyle helps prevent chronic disease, a problem that is relatively recent. “Most people in the 1920s did not live long enough to have a chronic disease,” she said. She also encouraged everyone to get a flu shot, pointing out that although the vaccine takes two weeks to protect against the flu, the flu season lasts another 12 weeks. “It hits you like a Mack truck and then it backs up,” she said. Bancroft and the doctors on the panel admonished the women to be proactive about their health. “The most importart part of your healthcare team is you,” said Dr. James Riser, a family practitioner in Picayune. “You are the center of the team.” In addition to Riser, panelists were Dr. Jennifer Bailey of Hattiesburg Clinic, Dr. Andrea Carter of Women’s Pavilion of South Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Dr. Angela Jones of Poplarville Clinic of Hattiesburg Clinic and Dr. Lara Otaigbe of Wesley Primary Care in Hattiesburg. The symposium’s popularity may force changes in the future, said Dr. William Lewis, PRCC president. “When we began this venture seven years ago, the idea was we wanted to build off our Wellness Center,” he said. “The first year, we had about 200 people. This year, we had about 400 people. Quite frankly, we’re at a crossroads. We had a waiting list this year.” With the Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Performing Arts and the Marvin R. White Coliseum slated to open this year, symposium planners have options for future events, he said. In addition to the favors each guest received, dozens of door prizes were awarded, including six grand prizes:Vera Bradley bag from PRCC admissions - Ruth Ann Kohnke of Lumberton.Eighteen-inch pearl necklace from Paris Jewelers - Joye Ferrill of Poplarville.Year’s supply of Coca-Cola from Coca-Cola of Hattiesburg - Valerie Rainey of Poplarville.Healing Touch Day Spa gift package - Margaret LynnConcrete picnic table and benches from the PRCC masonry program - Paula Bond of Poplarville.Belk Day of Beauty package - Teresa Amacker of Poplarville. Grand sponsor for the symposium was the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation. Silver sponsors were Hancock Bank, Slidell Memorial Hospital and Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home. Bronze sponsors were BankPlus, First National Bank of Picayune, Hattiesburg Clinic, Highland Community Hospital, Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, Wal-Mart Supercenter of Picayune and Wesley Medical Center. Screening and demonstration providers were SafeHeart Health Screens, Forrest General Home Care and Hospice, Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home, Hattiesburg Clinic, Highland Community Hospital, Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative, Mississippi Department of Mental Health, Poplarville Family Chiropractic Clinic, Grace Health Care, Wesley Medical Center, Healing Touch School and Day Spa, Hattiesburg Eye Clinic, Cloverleaf Immediate Care and students from the PRCC nursing, medical laboratory technology and cosmetology programs. Additional information booths were provided by Dermatology South, MS Self Defense, Pine Grove, Pink Ribbon Fund of Hattiesburg, Planned Parenthood Southeast, Poplarville Family Clinic, PRCC dental hygiene program, Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, Stone County Hospital and Clinic, Poplarville Medical Clinic and WebMD Health Services.

Pearl River Community College cosmetology students Racquel Brekeen of Carriere, from left, and Constance Dedeaux of Wiggins give manicures to Lois Smith of Picayune and Peggy LaDue of Poplarville during the 2013 Women’s Health Symposium Jan. 26 at PRCC.PRCC Public Relations photo

JACKSON, Miss. – Pearl River Community College (PRCC) in Poplarville will be featured in the season premiere of Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s (MPB) original series “Job Hunter” on Thurs., Feb. 7, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. on MPB TV.

“We are pleased to bring ‘Job Hunter’ back to MPB for a second season,” said MPB Executive Director Ronnie Agnew. “Fostering a vibrant and robust workforce is essential to strengthening Mississippi’s economy. MPB is proud to have a part in that by highlighting the wealth of careers in Mississippi industries and the skills needed to succeed in those fields.”

Throughout the show, viewers will see interviews with various PRCC students and faculty in the school’s Utility Lineman Training program.

As the only show of its kind in Mississippi, “Job Hunter” introduces viewers to jobs and career opportunities right here at home. Episode one focuses on the energy industry in Mississippi.

Host Kerri Courtney will take viewers to high-profile companies around the state to explore the variety of careers within the industry. Courtney will then visit PRCC’s Utility Lineman training program, which will equip “job hunters” with the skills they need for energy careers.

Catch season two of “Job Hunter” on MPB TV Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. beginning Feb. 7, 2013. For more information, visit www.mpbonline.org/jobhunter.

“Job Hunter” is made possible in part by funding from the state of Mississippi and the Mississippi Manufacturers Association’s (MMA) Dream It. Do It. campaign and the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.